Vietnam, Bulgaria step up defence links

Vietnam and Bulgaria have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on defence cooperation, voicing their hope for the elevation of
the linkage to a new height.

The MoU was inked by
Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh and his Bulgarian
counterpart Angel Naydenov following their talks in Sofia on August
15.

Defence Minister Thanh was on an official visit to
Bulgaria from August 14-17 at the invitation of Defence Minister
Naydenov.

During the talks, Minister Thanh expressed his hope
for the development of comprehensive cooperation between the two
nations, adding that Bulgaria is one of Vietnam ’s important
partners in Europe .

Minister Thanh said Vietnam ’s
comprehensive and effective cooperation with Bulgaria , including
that in the field of national defence, is acting as a bridge for the
Southeast Asian country to expand its relations with European nations.

According to the minister, the signing of the MoU manifests
the two sides’ wish to elevate bilateral relations, including defence
ties, to a new height. Under the MoU, the two sides will conduct
exchanges of delegations at all levels, training, experience and
information, and cooperate in defence industry.

Minister
Thanh expressed his belief that on the basis of the traditional
friendship and each side’s potential, the bilateral cooperation will
yield practical outcomes for the benefit of the two nations, and for
peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

For his part, Bulgarian Defence Minister Naydenov affirmed
Vietnam as one of Bulgaria ’s important and trust-worthy partners
in Asia .

He said the similarity Vietnam and Bulgaria
share in policy creates favourable conditions for the two countries to
step up their multi-faceted cooperation, including defence ties.

He voiced his hope that the MoU will concretise existing areas of
cooperation between the two countries while opening up new ones.

The Bulgarian minister pointed to prioritised areas in the defence
cooperation, namely the exchange of delegations and experience in
participating in the United Nations peacekeeping missions, military
medicine, humanitarian activities, military technologies and
anti-terrorism.

Earlier on the same day, the Vietnamese
delegation was received by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, who
described the visit as a manifestation of the fruitful traditional
relationship between the two nations and the two armies as well.

Bulgaria attaches importance to the linkage with Vietnam ,
he said, voicing his hope that the relationship will be further
developed following his upcoming visit to the Southeast Asian country.

President Plevneliev pledged favourable conditions for
cooperation between the two armies, especially in the field of training
which he regarded as a bridge for long-term cooperation between the two
countries.
Minister Thanh reiterated Bulgaria ’s
significant position in Vietnam ’s foreign policy, saying the
Vietnamese people wish to develop cooperative relations with the
country.

He called on the Bulgarian side to create
favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to integrate into the
host country and contribute to developing the traditional friendship
between the two nations.

During their stay in Bulgaria ,
Minister Thanh and his entourage visited the Bulgarian Ministry of
Economy and Energy, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the
National Military University of Bulgaria.

The Bulgaria
visit forms part of the minister’s trip to European countries from
August 6-21 to reinforce the traditional friendship and mutual
beneficiary cooperation between the people and army of Vietnam and
the host countries.-VNA